Deer hunting with 45 Colt

[yul b. nekst]

Anyone here ever deer hunt with their 45 Colt in blackpowder? I'm using 250 grain Lyman slugs in front of about 30+ grains of 3f Goex? Probably be using my Win 94, as its the only rifle I currently have in 45 Colt. I hunt on the ground at distances under 50 yards. I have opinions about it, but I want to hear from someone who's actually done it. I'm not into all day tracking sessions. Not that I don't love being in the woods, mind you, I just don't want anything to suffer if the load's not up to it.

[Dick Dastardly]

I'd be loading a full compressed load of the very energetic black powder, something like Swiss, under a 250 grain (PRS for me ) Big Lube™ bullet cast soft (something like 20:1 or softer).  Make up enough of them that you can sandbag the gun and shoot some paper.  If you have complete confidence of bullet placement, the above mentioned recipe will kill Bambi.

Enjoy some fine eating without a lot of torn up bloodshot meat.

DD-DLoS

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Howdy!

DD's words are SO true ... and he's a hunter.  I wish I had a Dollar for every deer that has been taken with old BP cartridges.  Since "in the day" there weren't any rifles chambered in 45 Colt, mostly 44WCF or others, it's hard to directly compare it to the 45 Colt's abilities, but as the 44 WCF (44-40) is ballistically similar to the 45 Colt, I think it's fair to say that IF you get confident and proficient with your chosen load and IF you place your shot well, you'll have NO trouble whatsoever.

A good friend shot a 12 pointer last fall using a Colt SAA, 7.5" barrelled pistol.  He used a 158 gr. (.357) JSP bullet.  No - it wasn't BP, but I mention it because in his words, "Shot placement and load familiarity" are most important.  It was a one-shot, no chase kill.  He also told me to mention this for you to think about:  IF you shoot BP and the wind is calm you COULD have trouble.  I asked "in case of a second shot?"  Well, he said yeah - but ALSO even if you pretty much one-shot him BUT he does have enough juice to run a BIT, you might have trouble seeing where he runs!  I hadn't thought of that.  ('Course, I'm not a hunter - 'tho I   hope to change that this fall on his property!  With a 45 Colt '92 Win. (Rossi).  And shooting BP!!!  )

[Adirondack Jack]

The parameters you describe are fine.  I'd  choose a 250, stuff enough BP behind it to get heavy compression and yes, bench test it.

I hunt with smokeless, and have done so with a revolver.  I can hit the boiler room at 75 yards with the blackhawk, and my bullet would be travellin' about the same rate as yours.  No worries.

[Pitspitr]

Be sure to check you local laws. A .45 lc doesn't produce enough energy to be legal here in Nebraska. At 1241 fps with a 250gr bullet the .45 lc would produce 854 ft/lbs of energy at the muzzle. To be legal in Nebraska it must produce 900 ft/lbs at 100 yards.

[Silver Creek Slim]

Since ya live "Up north Wisconsin, near da Yoopers, eh.", .45 Colt is legal fer deer if you live in a rifle zone. I shot a deer with my Marlin .45 Colt a couple years ago with smokeless and a JHP. It was running when I hit it. I found it about 75 yards from where I hit it. I am very confident that the load that you described will do the job. Last year I went out with my .44-40 Henry with 200gr BP loads, but didn't see anything to shoot. 

Slim

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Elmer Keith killed deer all the time with a 45 colt 5 1/2" barrel, he used a stiff load and I think it was a 260 gr. bullet, I believe medium -soft lead.  I know he talks about the 45 colt alot in his book, ( Hell I Was There ) good reading. You can get the bullets from www. Mt. Baldy Bullet Co. com , Cody Wyomoing.

                                       Hope This Helps

                             TEN WOLVES FIVE SHOOTER

[will52100]

45 out of a rifle will definatly drop a normal white tail under a 100 yard with good shot placement.  Last deer I shot was with my Henry at just under 75 yards, 45 colt, 250 grain PRS bullet cast from aprox. 20-1 lead, 38 grains of drop tubed graf's black powder and a mag primmer.  Deer didn't move further than where it slid down the hill.  I was on a higher hill and the bullet travelled nearly the full length of it's body, top to bottom.

[Dick Dastardly]

It's fun to bust a nice buck with Holy Black.  There's just more satisfaction in using low tech and high skill.  I'm sure that's why the bow hunters enjoy sitting in a tree for so many hours.

DD-DLoS

[w44wcf]

yul b. nekst,

The bullet choice would be important. If you are using the 452190, the meplat (front diameter of the bullet) is too small.  The .45 25o "Big Lube" meplat is around .33" and, thus as DD indicated would be a great deer bullet.  Non expanding bullets with  larger meplats are proven game harvesters.

If you are using the 452190, and don't have access to the "Big Lube" bullets you could take a file and file larger meplat.   

Happy Trails,
w44wcf